Website Development in China
QPSoftware is a web development company in Shanghai, founded in 2009. Our Chinese and international developers handle website development in China for local and international companies, such as the responsive corporate website of Smiths Interconnect, with its ICP registration and a contact form connected to Salesforce, and the Drupal booking website of Cosy Stay.
Development is the step that follows design in our China website design services. Once the pages are designed, our developers turn them into a fast, secure website that your own team can update, in Chinese, in English or in several languages. Local Chinese translators write the Chinese version, and our team can also localize your website for Chinese users.
Front-end and back-end development
Web development has two parts, and our team covers both:
- Front-end development turns the design into the pages people see and use, with HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- Back-end development runs on the server: the database, the business logic, and the exchanges between the database and the browser.
On every project, we build for:
- Scalability. An architecture and tools that let the website grow with your business, so you never outgrow it.
- Smooth integration. Reliable data exchange with your existing systems, such as a CRM or an ERP.
- Easy content management. A back office where non-technical team members create, edit and publish content.
- User experience. A website based on the needs and limits of its users, studied before development starts.
- Security. Company and personal data protected against threats.
For Duke Kunshan University, the project also included data import, export and migration, and the integration of an event management system.
Drupal, WordPress or Symfony?
Choosing the technology is the first and most important step for a good start online. We look at your website’s potential, your audience and your future developments, then recommend one of three options:
| Technology | What we build with it |
|---|---|
| WordPress | Brand and corporate websites that are easy for your own team to update, such as Erno Laszlo’s website for China or Design DMU’s multilingual website |
| Drupal | Websites and platforms that need custom modules, such as the booking website of Cosy Stay or the MYKE CRM of LVMH Watches & Jewelry |
| Symfony | Custom business applications, such as business intelligence software and CRM tools |
Our comparison of Drupal, WordPress and Joomla explains the differences between the main content management systems.
Agile development, sprint by sprint
Our developers follow our agile methodology, based on Scrum, with a certified Scrum Master. The project is split into sprints, and each sprint ends with a usable part of the website that you can test and adjust. Problems show up early, while they are still easy to fix.
- Requirements. We define the features, the content and the integrations with you.
- Architecture. We choose the technology and plan how the website will grow.
- Sprints. We develop in short cycles, with a review at the end of each one.
- Testing. We test the website on phones, tablets and desktop browsers.
- Launch and follow-up. We put the website online, then keep it secure and up to date with website and e-commerce maintenance in China.
Read more about the Scrum approach to project management.
Fast and reliable in mainland China
A website developed abroad can be slow or partly broken in mainland China. Three points need attention during development:
- Hosting. A server in mainland China is the fastest option, but it needs an ICP filing: the MIIT filing rules forbid running a non-commercial website in China without one. Hosting in Hong Kong needs no filing. The Smiths Interconnect project included the ICP registration.
- Blocked services. Google Fonts, Google Maps and reCAPTCHA do not load reliably in China. For Erno Laszlo, our developers optimized the code for desktop and mobile and avoided the plugins and APIs blocked in China. Cosy Stay shows its flats on Baidu Maps.
- Speed. Browser caching, optimized images, minified JavaScript, no CSS @import, a faster server response, compression, and visible content loaded first.
For WordPress, see how to optimize a WordPress website in China. For a website already online, our technical SEO audit and on-site optimization also works on page speed, for Baidu as well as Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does your agency have Chinese web developers?
Yes. Our international team in Shanghai is made up of Chinese web developers and developers from other countries. This mix lets us adapt to the needs of both the local and the international markets. When a website needs a Chinese version, local Chinese translators write it, and our developers can build the website in several languages.
Should we build our website with Drupal, WordPress or Symfony?
It depends on the project. WordPress suits brand and corporate websites that your own team updates often. Drupal suits complex websites and platforms that need custom modules or e-commerce. Symfony suits custom business applications, such as business intelligence or CRM tools. We recommend one after studying your requirements, your audience and the way the website should grow.
How long does it take to develop a website for China?
The timeline depends on the number of templates and features, the integrations with your systems, the number of languages and how quickly content and feedback arrive. Hosting counts too: a website hosted in mainland China needs an ICP filing, which usually takes two to four weeks once the documents are complete. Working in sprints shows progress early.
Will our website be fast in mainland China?
It can be, if it is built for China. Hosting in mainland China gives the fastest loading but requires an ICP filing, and hosting in Hong Kong is a common alternative. Services blocked in China, such as Google Fonts or Google Maps, must be replaced, and images, scripts and caching optimized. These points cost less when planned at the start of development.
WHY QPSOFTWARE?
Founded in 2009, QPSoftware develops websites from Shanghai, with more than 200 projects delivered. We develop for the Chinese market, for international markets or for both, for small and large organizations, and provide full support and technical advice at every stage.
With a certified Scrum Master and an agile method, you see and test the work at the end of every sprint.
